Random 15 Championship 2024/25: Round 2

[tangy]

If you are new to all of this:
Welcome to the Random 15 Championship. I am your host (commonly known to regulars as the BERC when I am hosting Random 15 challenges). The Random 15 challenge is just that, visit 15 randomly selected stations that feature on the Tube Map (usually within zones 1-2 and using the Underground network only). There will be certain rounds within the championship that are a variation of this such as adding an extra zone or network e.g. DLR onto the challenge. So are you ready to take on the Random 15 championship?

The rules and scoring are unchanged from previous seasons but if anyone is not familiar with them, or needs a refresh, you can view them here: http://www.explorerticket.co.uk/tubecha ... 5rules.htm

We start the new season with the now customary Champion's Twist as provided by the winner of last's season's championship- which was myself.

When: Saturday 30th November 12:30 UK local time.
Variant: Normal round, just 15 LU only stations within zones 1 and 2.
Meet up: Holland Park (meet street side of the ticket barriers).
Post challenge pub: The Blue Posts, Newman Street, Marylebone W1T 3EU.
Time limit to complete: Normal round, 4 hours.

Closures affecting this challenge (correct at time of posting):
Piccadilly: No service Cockfosters - Hyde Park Korner.
Waterloo & City: Usual weekend closure.

Other closures to be aware of:
DLR: No service Prince Regent - Beckton
Great Northern: Limited services to King's Cross and Moorgate.

As usual this is an open invitation event but advance notice would be welcome - so that I know who I am expecting at the start and also how many envelopes to prepare.

Thanks.
Tangy.

[Lunaticonthegrass]

Attending: Lotg

I feel that the pub we went to after the last round was ok, but a bit cramped and loud. Shame they didn't do food. Personally, I preferred The Blue Posts, but I'll be interested to see what this next new venue is like.

[tractakid]

Attending: Lotg,tractakid

[JamesWright]

Attending: Lotg,tractakid,JW

If I’m reading the TFL site correctly, the daytime Piccadilly line closure will be Cockfosters to King’s Cross St Pancras, not Hyde Park Corner.

[Oggm]

Attending: Lotg, tractakid, JW, Oggm

I shall strive to be there, depending on my knee deciding to fix itself in time.

[Lunaticonthegrass]

Any news on the pub yet?

[hopeful traveller]

Attending: Lotg, tractakid, JW, Oggm, hopeful traveller

I shall strive to be there but have a commitment in Rayners Lane beforehand.

[tangy]

Sorry for the delays.

Following recent research and site visits looking for possible venues to host us plus reactions regarding the Carpenters Arms near Marble Arch, we will be reverting to the Blue Posts for the after challenge meet up.

[Muadh]

Attending: Lotg, tractakid, JW, Oggm, hopeful traveller, Muadh

[Oggm]

I'll kick off the write ups with a rather hectic run for my standards.

The only thing I was actually thinking about in preparation was trying to make the run for the 1239z HSK service from Olympia. Having walked the route two hours before (having gotten lost that first time), I was moderately confident in making the service on time.

Therefore, all my mind was looking for at the start was 'Kensington (Olympia)', but to no avail. Making multiple aparent logical thoughts in a split second at that time; my brain claimed that seeing 'Fulham Broadway' on the list was a reasonable enough excuse to go running. (spoiler: it was not)

Going via Earl's Court, I reached my first station; Fulham Broadway, a depressing 16 minuites (i think) after the challenge had begun. Then, up to Earl's Court again, onwards to Stamford Brook, I speculated that everyone was on the train behind me having already done Holland Park and Wood Lane, but I was relieved when they didn't come out of the following train as I was waiting at Stamford Brook. They had probably already done it by then D: Now I think I could have taken a bus via Goldhawk Road, but my brain wasn't thinking right; down to Hammersmith; accross the road; up to Wood Lane. A sad 4 min wait at White City, on an unrefurbished 1992 stock, ensued.

It was even sadder that the doors only opened on one side

But, away the Hainault bound red squiggle went! Passing through Holland Park, I dared a look at the signs which I betrayed by not starting from them. Down to St. Paul's; having recieved some top secret info. on the Z1 this year, that I could then; run to Mansion House. It is a nice, short run, yet I did manage to get lost initially. Over to Cannon Street, absolutely sprinting towards Bank. STOP (turns out that that new pretty entrance was closed. TURN AROUND (the embarassment of having to look back at people you barged past 10 seconds ago, and having to do it again, never passes) GO. Down into the northern line tunnels (I swear those platforms are wider than the distance between Covent Garden and Leicester Square). Up to Moorgate. Lizzie to Shenfield, no, to Stratford. My brain started to stop functioning. Sprinting to the jubilee line at Stratford I got lost again. But, surprise surprise; I found my way again. Only to witness the dissapointment of seeing the doors close 10 meters away. But, the driver feeling kind released the doors once more to allow a couple to reunite in the train, having secured the doors between their hands 10 seconds prior. It was cute. But, even better, I managed to slip in; just.

All the way to Waterloo, via CW (that stands for Canada Water, not Canary Wharf if your curious). Down to Castle and Elephant, via North Lambeth. Down (I have used that word a lot; sorry, I shall stop) to Kennington. Losing myself again (because Geoff drew the station diagram wrong on his app); I spawned into a n/b MHE service (I bet you have never been on a s/b MHE service). I happily ticked off Charing Cross, Warren Street and, Mornington Crescent (ha, bet you didn't see that one coming!). Branch changing at Camden Town was painful to say the least. Up to the really small park because it is the size of a bell. Google said that the C11 bus would work well; it lied. Did I still believe it though? ...of course; I trusted my life on it. I dropped my water bottle onto the delightful pavements around Swiss Cottage (or St. John's Wood; I can't remeber; they're practically the same thing though) as I left my bag open. Eugh. At least that was almost all of my failiures for the day. Up to Kilburn, double back, and onto a nicely lined up enil niatiloportem service. My final change at Cooker, no sorry, Baker Street entailed barging through many big football dudes; they even cheered me on, while STANDING ON THE LEFT side of the escallator. Onto a Stonebridge Park bound '72 stock. Now my last bit off fatigue induced stupiditiy revealed itself. I basically almost slept through Warwick Avenue. Stopped my stopwatch at 033210 which was more like the time of departure than arrival, but, I chose to declare the rightful time I measured because I wasn't bothered to do the maths, or I wanted to teach myself a lesson to wake up; I just can't remeber which one.

Thank you Tangy.

Oggm, Out.

[Lunaticonthegrass]

Except Milo (who started by running to Olympia), we all started by passing through the ticket barriers and into the lift which had just arrived, opening emvelopes as we went down. Rhys B headed east but everyone else headed west from HOLLAND PARK for Wood Lane. So we all got out at White City and had a proper race down the road. The floors in the stations were very slippy due to the weather and I fell over trying to get through the barries at WOOD LANE - twice in two R15s I've fallen over, both times trying to get through barriers on the Hammersmith Loop.

Those present all headed south on the same train, and we slowly dwindled in number as people had different ideas to everyone else or missed connections. Most of us caught a train west from Hammersmith (D&P) and most of those left made a 1 minute doubleback at STAMFORD BROOK - a lesson in always bothering with door positions. Pretty good connection at Earl's Court and a few minutes for a Wimbleware at FULHAM BROADWAY. By now it was Andrew C, Peter, Rhys J, Ian, Muadh and myself.

Ian left us back at Earl's Court. The rest of us changed at Paddington to the Bakerloo to tick off WARWICK AVENUE. I assumed everyone except me would be doubling back here, so tried to make it look like I was about to do that, but everyone else also stayed on the train. What were we all planning? Andrew C got out at Maida Vale (we guessed to run to St. John's Wood) and the rest of us got out at Kilburn Park and straight onto a 32 bus to Kilburn - the first time I've taken a bus with someone on a R15. I could possibly have outrun the bus, but sitting on the top deck making conversation was far less tiring and much more fun.

Shortly after KILBURN the remaining four in the pack split up and I was alone for the rest of the challenge. Wanting Warren Street next, I changed to the Met at Finchley Road. Just missed a cross-platform here but another train was along a minute late. Got held at Baker Street for a short while and then got out at Great Portland Street to run to WARREN STREET. The northbound Northern line platform was eerily quiet and the departure boards weren't showing anything which put me a bit on edge but a train came along after 3 minutes, and it was for Edgware!

Just missed a doubleback at BELSIZE PARK so had a few minutes for the next train, which of course turned out to be for the Charing Cross branch. Just missed a Bank branch train at Camden Town, then crossed between the 2 southbound platforms 3 more times trying to see which one had the next Bank train. Spotted Tangy getting off this but I'm not sure he noticed me. Down through MOORGATE to Bonk/Manument and then west on the District. Got held at MANSION HOUSE for well over 2 minutes for no stated reason, during which time an eastbound train left and another eastbound train arrived and left! (Following pub discussion, we found out that the second of those trains may well have had Rhys J on it.)

Messed up at Embankment by not being able to follow signs to the Bakerloo and just missed a train. Fortunately another one along a minute later and a really good doubleback at CHARING CROSS. Though LAMBETH NORTH to E&C, where again I just missed a train but there was another one a minute behind. Doubleback at KENNINGTON and then battled through the crowds at London Bridge for a good connection to the Jubilee. That said, the train was very stop-start all the way to the end, but before too long I was through CANADA WATER and pulling into STRATFORD.

Holland Park White City (run) Wood Lane Hammersmith (H&C) (run) Hammersmith (D&P) Stamford Brook Earl's Court Fulham Broadway Paddington (Praed Sreet) Kilburn Park (32 bus) Kilburn Finchley Road GPS (run) Warren Street Belsize Park Bank/Monument Embankment Charring Cross E&C Kennington London Bridge Stratford

Quite a challenging set of stations. None of them too bad on their own but all together it made for quite an afternoon. I never had more than about 3 minutes for a train but there were several occasion where I just missed a train, only for another one to come along a minute later, which then stopped between stops presumably due to being right behind the train I missed. (Finchley Road, Monument, E&C and arguably London Bridge).

I do hope Andrew B and team post details of their day. Not wishing to give too much away, but their route was practically identical to mine, but they finished... quite a bit after me.

[tractakid]

James has covered the first part of my route, and indeed I did run to St Johns Wood. Up to Kilburn, and ran to Brondesbury, where the next Stratford train was in 2 minutes.

Over to Hampstead Heath where I discovered Muadh, and we both alighted. I ran to Belsize Park, but had lost Muadh by the time I alighted a train there. Horrible up and down run.

on my train at Belsize Park I travelled to Camden Town, and switched platforms for an imminent train to Battersea Power Station. I discovered Peter on this train and we were then together for the next good while of our routes. Down to Kennington, up to Elephant and Castle, up to Embankment, over to Monument, up to Moorgate.

Then I lost Peter when I went down to London Bridge to board my final train to Stratford.

I have no idea how I did as I sadly had to dash straight back home, missing the pub. I did have a successful evening performing at a gig though!

[JamesWright]

I'd decided beforehand there was no point me trying to run to another station so when the race started I went straight through the barriers and down the stairs to be the first challenger on the platforms at Holland Park, where I planned my route. Along with most of the field I travelled via White City, Wood Lane, Hammersmith/Hammersmith to Stamford Brook, where I annoyingly missed a doubleback through being at the wrong end of the platform and not running fast enough. As I was waiting for the train 5 minutes behind I was caught up by Tangy, who'd run from Goldhawk Road. I would spend a lot of time with Tangy during the competition, us neither being able to shake the other.

We travelled together to Earl's Court, Fulham Broadway, Paddington, onto a Bakerloo train to Warwick Avenue. Tangy left at Maida Vale and I stayed on to Kilburn Park to transfer to a bus to Kilburn. Unfortunately immediately after leaving Maida Vale the train stopped in the tunnel for 4 minutes while the driver made unintelligible announcements. I was deceived by the countdown at the bus stop into waiting five whole minutes for a "due" 316 bus which took me to Kilburn.

Jubilee to Swiss Cottage then 46 bus to Hampstead that was delayed by temporary traffic lights on Fitzjohn's Avenue. Northern through Belsize Park to Camden Town where both platforms had "Next Charing Cross train 6 minutes", so I jumped on a Bank branch train and changed my route on the way to Euston. I bumped into Tangy again on the Victoria line platform there. He left at Warren Street while I continued to Oxford Circus, Bakerloo to Elephant & Castle (ticking off Charing Cross and Lambeth North), Northern to Kennington, Northern to Embankment, District through Mansion House to Monument, on which train Tangy and I once again were reunited.

We transferred together to Moorgate, doubled back together to London Bridge, then Jubileed together through Canada Water to Stratford.

A difficult round that resulted in a wide field spread and in the time limit becoming a real hazard. Thanks Tangy for organising.

[hopeful traveller]

An absolute disaster.

In the 3 minutes of free time we had in the lift I identified every station (apart from Moorgate) and overthought. I thought it wasn’t possible to link up the West London section with Warwick Avenue (as I’d completely forgotten the Wimbleware exists) so at Holland Park I jumped east and promptly sealed my fate to the back of the grid. At Notting Hill Gate I just missed a northbound District Line train but there was one just behind, so not a problem. I change for the Bakerloo at Paddington - no problems there - and I get a silky smooth double back at Warwick Avenue to Baker Street, up to Kilburn.

Thanks to the handy hints from Apple Maps and a reluctance to run anything meaningful, I decide not to do 2x Overground (or whatever it’s called these days) runs along the North London Line as tractakid did, so I put my faith in the map (saying this route would save me 6 mins) by doubling back to Swiss Cottage, getting a 46 bus instantly up to Hampstead, and a train coming in at the other end too to Belsize Park. It was the Kilburn double-back only that let me down, otherwise that could not have gone better.

Down the Charing Cross branch to Warren Street - being held up at Mornington Crescent of all places - before changing for the Victoria Line, which is much more of a change than it looks on any map, and then taking the Central Line (yep, through Holland Park a second time) before doing the section I should have started with - White City, Wood Lane, Hammersmith, Hammersmith, Stamford Brook, Earl’s Court, stop.

Whereupon “Rhys and the District Line” strike again as I have to with NINE WHOLE MINUTES for a Wimbledon train, during which time TWO Olympia trains come and go.

To Fulham Broadway, before I start a horrid sequence of double backing which was largely uneventful: Mansion House, back to Embankment, up to Charing Cross, through Lambeth North to Elephant & Castle, down to Kennington, up to Moorgate (where I have to let a train go, it’s so busy), down to London Bridge, through Canada Water, and then Stratford to finish just inside the 4 hours.

Horrid set of stations and truth be told I should have gone west like everyone else then connected up Warwick Avenue, Kilburn, and Belsize Park later.

[ANDY_JS]

Sorry to go off topic slightly. I was just wondering whether Kensington Olympia is one of the stations that can be selected in a Random 15 challenge?